One of our curriculum goals is “To reflect and debate how cultural differences and different values can influence communication.” South Africa has a population of approximately 40 million people, ¾ of the population are, in lack of a better expression, black. There are six major ethnic groups in South Africa: Afrikaner, Coloured/Cape Malay, Bantu, English, Chinese and Indian. There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Most South Africans speak English and Afrikaans, which is derived from their Dutch heritage. 11 languages, that is quite a lot for a country. This of course affects the communication between the different ethnic groups even though they have English and Afrikaans as the main languages. In other words, the cultural differences have affected the communication in South Africa.
The Dutch settled in South Africa around the mid 1600s. Since then, their language, culture, values etc. have affected the inhabitants of South Africa which has lead to the development of their language Afrikaans. In addition, around the early 1800s the British Empire invaded South Africa which led to the Boer Wars. The first was won by the Boer republics, even though they were greatly outnumbered. However, they knew the country and fought with a home advantage which led to victory. The second war was won by the British Empire, as they came better prepared and with a larger force. These historical events have shaped the inhabitants of South Africa. It explains why there are so many Caucasian people in South Africa and why the speak English and Afrikaans. South Africans had a language they spoke before the Dutch and British arrived. With the arrival of different languages, the South African language evolves. Basically, it starts with loanwords but eventually the two languages blend together over a period of time.
In addition, the British invaded South Africa. They became the governing organ of South Africa in other words. By forcing English as the business language, using it in education and official documents it became the main language. Also English shaped the communication in South Africa to what it is today. The cultural differences, especially the languages of course have shaped, molded and created the communication in South Africa. All the different nationalities and ethnicities, together.
One of our curriculum goals is “To reflect and debate how cultural differences and different values can influence communication.” South Africa has a population of approximately 40 million people, ¾ of the population are, in lack of a better expression, black. There are six major ethnic groups in South Africa: Afrikaner, Coloured/Cape Malay, Bantu, English, Chinese and Indian. There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Most South Africans speak English and Afrikaans, which is derived from their Dutch heritage. 11 languages, that is quite a lot for a country. This of course affects the communication between the different ethnic groups even though they have English and Afrikaans as the main languages. In other words, the cultural differences have affected the communication in South Africa.
The Dutch settled in South Africa around the mid 1600s. Since then, their language, culture, values etc. have affected the inhabitants of South Africa which has lead to the development of their language Afrikaans. In addition, around the early 1800s the British Empire invaded South Africa which led to the Boer Wars. The first was won by the Boer republics, even though they were greatly outnumbered. However, they knew the country and fought with a home advantage which led to victory. The second war was won by the British Empire, as they came better prepared and with a larger force. These historical events have shaped the inhabitants of South Africa. It explains why there are so many Caucasian people in South Africa and why the speak English and Afrikaans. South Africans had a language they spoke before the Dutch and British arrived. With the arrival of different languages, the South African language evolves. Basically, it starts with loanwords but eventually the two languages blend together over a period of time. 
In addition, the British invaded South Africa. They became the governing organ of South Africa in other words. By forcing English as the business language, using it in education and official documents it became the main language. Also English shaped the communication in South Africa to what it is today. The cultural differences, especially the languages of course have shaped, molded and created the communication in South Africa. All the different nationalities and ethnicities, together.
Interesting post about South Africa and the different languages and their origins. It is a good way to start of the post by stating the curriculum goal in the beginning. This is a good example of communication and different values.
SvarSlett